By Jenni Davidson
Hove Museum is to get a new outdoor seating area for its café.
Planning permission for a new terrace was granted at a meeting of Brighton and Hove City Council’s planning committee yesterday (Wednesday 30 October).
The terrace is to be built along the side of the museum.
It will have room for four tables and 22 chairs.
Several local residents expressed concern that the extension would lead to noise and antisocial behaviour, particularly at night.
Councillor Denise Cobb also objected to the scale of the extension in a conservation area.
Abigail Thomas, head of enterprise at the Royal Pavilion, Museums and Libraries, confirmed that the tables and chairs would be brought in at night.
She also explained that a recent application for a licence to serve alcohol until 11pm was to cover evening events such as private viewings inside the museum.
The outdoor terrace will close at 4.30pm.
Councillor Lynda Hyde reassured residents that they could contact the licensing department to ask for the licence to be revoked if there were any problems.
Reclaimed Yorkstone paving will be used for the patio, to be enclosed by a planted low wall. At least it isn’t decking or, worse, raised and fenced decking.
The drawing on the plans shows an awful lot of tables and chairs on it however, promising a cramped outdoor experience, at best. They clearly seek to make the museum into an eating destination and this could overshadow the Museum AS a museum with visitors coming for THAT who might like a cup of tea and a cake or a bit of lunch.
It would be a shame if the genuine visitor could not get that refreshment because lunchers and socialisers have colonised the tea room and its terrace. Too chi-chi or expensive a tea room that prevents normal visitors taking refreshment if needed would ultimately deter museum attendance FOR exhibition-support reasons.
Reclaimed Yorkstone paving will be used for the patio, to be enclosed by a planted low wall. At least it isn’t decking or, worse, raised and fenced decking.
The drawing on the plans shows an awful lot of tables and chairs on it however, promising a cramped outdoor experience, at best. They clearly seek to make the museum into an eating destination and this could overshadow the Museum AS a museum with visitors coming for THAT who might like a cup of tea and a cake or a bit of lunch.
It would be a shame if the genuine visitor could not get that refreshment because lunchers and socialisers have colonised the tea room and its terrace. Too chi-chi or expensive a tea room that prevents normal visitors taking refreshment if needed would ultimately deter museum attendance FOR exhibition-support reasons.
It would be good, in more prosperous times, to bring back the cupola.
Do not let it be forgotten that in the Seventies the Tories flogged off many of the Museum’s contents…
It would be good, in more prosperous times, to bring back the cupola.
Do not let it be forgotten that in the Seventies the Tories flogged off many of the Museum’s contents…